Brian Doran farms 84ha of good-quality, free-draining land outside Carnew in Co Wicklow. Forty-three hectares of the farm are grassland, while the remaining 41ha are in tillage. The grassland area is split into two blocks. The 32ha main block is situated around the yard, with the remaining 11ha five miles away.

Suckler cows

Brian has a herd of 45 suckler cows. Upon completion of the programme, he is hoping to push this number up to 50. Replacements on the farm are usually sourced through the purchase of either in-calf heifers or cows with calves at foot. All cows are run in the one group alongside a Haltcliffe Dancer (HCF) Limousin stock bull.

If numbers are pushed up to 50, Brian's breeding strategy might need to be tweaked, with the possible inclusion of AI.

Due to the drought conditions at present, cows are receiving silage to prolong residency in each paddock. These cows are getting top-quality wrapped silage, but if hay can be sourced, it might be a better option for keeping the cows full.

Steers and heifers

Brian's other main grazing group contains 55 steers and heifers. This number is made-up of 45 of Brian’s own stock from last year, as well as 10 dairy-steers which were purchased around Christmas. The blueprint on the farm is to finish steers at 20 to 24 months, with heifers being killed younger at 18 to 20 months.

Brian has good-quality stock, meaning there is potential to finish under 16-month bulls, however, the steer beef system is working very well. Last year, Brian's steers had a weight gain of 1.01kg/day at grass and a gain of 0.93kg/day in his heifers.

Ten to 15 heavier steers and heifers have recently been drafted out of this main bunch to begin meal feeding for finishing off the grass in August.

Developments

A dairy calf-to-beef enterprise is being implemented on the farm to supplement output and gross margin. These calves are reared when purchased, saving Brian both the extra labour and increased mortality risk associated with rearing them himself.

Paddocks and water troughs have been installed on much of the farm and a phase of reseeding has also begun in a field just behind the yard.

Brian is also in the process of constructing a new slatted shed which will give him much more comfort during the winter time in regards to housing and feeding stock.

  • Brian Doran will host a Teagasc/ Irish Farmers Journal BETTER Farm Beef Challenge national open day on his farm next Tuesday.
  • Open day details:

    Brian Doran, Croneyhorn, Carnew, Co Wicklow, Y14AH01. Tuesday, 17 July at 12pm.

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